00:00The day we were supposed to complete our blood bonding ceremony, my mate Rylan had the clan
00:05sentinels drag me out of the sacred hall. Lyra's baby needs a father on paper. Once we divorce,
00:11I'll marry you. He walked in with his childhood sweetheart instead. Everyone thought I'd swallow
00:16my pride and wait another month. After all, I'd already waited seven years, but that night I
00:21accepted my family's arranged alliance and left the abyssal reach entirely. I disappeared from
00:27Rylan's world completely. Three years later, I returned to abyss reach with my mate for a clan
00:33ancestral rite. My mate had a work emergency, but he had his people to collect me. At the border
00:40crossing, I walked out and froze. That person was Rylan, my ex. The arrival clearing. I spotted a
00:49scout holding a marker carved with my name, my formal alliance name, Gila, and walked over. Rylan was
00:55holding it. He had Lyra with him, plus a few of his clansmen, all craning their necks toward the
01:00tree line. Rylan looked surprised to see me. He covered it fast. Hey, isn't that Rylan's obsessed
01:07ex? Isn't that Ivara? I told you. She'd come crawling back. His men laughed. Ivara vanished without a
01:14trass. Now she sees Rylan is in a higher rank. She probably cries herself to sleep every night.
01:21Ivara, if you're gonna fake a random run-in, why show up like this? Couldn't you at least put on
01:27some makeup? Without Rylan, you can't even buy a nice outfit. Look pathetic.
01:32It was true. I used to make myself perfect every time I knew I'd be near Rylan. Sharpest claws,
01:38finest scales on display, best version of me. Not anymore. No point. Because I'm carrying,
01:44and my mate refused to let me be uncomfortable. He had this soft traveling wrap custom tailored for me.
01:50Listening to them mock me, it suddenly clicked. They only knew my alliance name. They had no idea
01:55the one they were here to collect was me. Ivara, hey, it's good you're back. Rylan's been asking
02:00after you for years. Yeah, our son is entering the young training cohort soon. From now on,
02:06you're in charge of the drop-off. He was still so incredibly arrogant, but I wasn't that naive
02:11girl anymore. I didn't want to waste another second on them. I was just about to tell them exactly who
02:17I was.
02:19I am... Please don't blame Rylan. He's just trying to take care of you. You disappeared for three
02:23years. Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive. Rylan caught my expression and
02:28thought I was jealous. Something flickered in his eyes. Satisfaction. All right, Ivara, drop the
02:34attitude. You clearly can't survive out there, so stop throwing tantrums. Take care of the kid and
02:38learn your place. Damn, Ivara. Look how good Rayon is to you. He's giving you free room and board.
02:44Isn't babysitting better than whatever trashy life you're living now? Hurry up and say thank
02:48you! Lyra touched the scales at her throat and spoke with false sweetness. Rylan smirked and glanced
02:53at me. Don't worry, dear. If my son acts up, I'll handle him myself. You won't be mistreated.
02:59Why would she be mistreated? She ran away over a tiny little misunderstanding. If she hit rock bottom
03:04out in the wilds, a little humility is good for her. My heart actually skipped a beat. Three years had
03:09passed, and he still thought it was a small matter to dump me and married Lyra. The Rylan who used
03:14to
03:14love me was truly gone. He wasn't the young warrior who'd carried me, wounded, across three territory
03:19borders in the dead of a moonless night. But whatever. It was all in the past. None of it mattered
03:25anymore. Besides, I was about to carry my second hatchling anyway. Aren't you here to pick me up?
03:31Let's go. I looked at Rylan calmly and said, silence fell over the clearing. Pick you up,
03:39please. Lyra held up the carved marker. Read it carefully. We are here for Hela. Do you even
03:44know who that is? Kale is a living legend. Coldest dragon alive in the field but completely devoted
03:50to his wife. Rumor has it he refused all alliances for years just waiting for Hela. Everyone knows the
03:56rule. If you want Kale's favor, go through Hela. She is his entire world. Listening to them
04:01gossip about my marriage, I couldn't help it. A genuine happy smile spread across my face.
04:06We had been married for three years. Kale's reputation as a fiercely devoted husband had
04:11spread everywhere. To claim Hela as his, Kale went to the ancient exchange and paid down a
04:16legendary artifact, the Eternal Fang Bracelet, just to give to Hela. She's the most enviled female in
04:23every territory. Lyra stopped. Then she pointed at my wrist and shrieked.
04:28That bracelet! That's it! The clearing went quiet. Everyone looked. It's a pretty good fake.
04:36Which a lowborn Klansman bought you that? Buying you a cheap imitation. Absolute trash.
04:42Ryland grabbed my arm, studied the bracelet, then laughed.
04:45Wow, it really is high quality for a fake. Way better than the replica I had made. But I'd
04:50never actually wear mine in public. These outer territory imitations, though, the craftsmanship
04:54is something else. The weight actually feels real. Or what, Avara, are you going to tell us you're Hela?
05:04Are you Lord Kale's bonded mate?
05:07The whole group fell apart laughing. Of course they did. It was absurd to them. Kale was a living legend
05:12across all territories. Cold. Absolute. Untouchable. And three years ago, I was just the girl Ryland had
05:19left standing outside the sacred hall. There was no version of reality where those two things
05:24connected. Lyra swung the bracelet around her claw. Just give it to me, Avara. I'll pay double
05:29whatever you traded for. Give it back? Kale gave me that. Ryland struck me across the face before I
05:36could finish. Shut your mouth! My head snapped sideways. I tasted copper.
05:43Avara, do you have any idea what you're saying? Ryland looked furious. You think you can just
05:50casually invoke Lord Kale's name? Are you trying to get me killed? His clansmen piled on immediately.
05:56Do you know how hard we fought for this pickup assignment? Kale absorbed Ryland's clan faction
06:01last season. Our entire livelihood depends on him now. The only way Ryland keeps his post is if
06:08Hela accepted. And you're out here spreading wild rumors that you're connected to Lord Kale.
06:14Are you trying to ruin Ryland entirely?
06:19I wiped the blood from my lip. Slowly turned back to Ryland. Whatever he saw in my eyes made him
06:25flinch.
06:27Lyra caught it. She stepped forward and pointed a claw at my face.
06:30You ungrateful snake. Ryland offered you a place and you throw it back at him?
06:34I know you're still bitter about the past. Trying to sabotage his standing out of petty
06:40spite. That's sick. Hearing her say that, it felt exactly like three years ago. No matter
06:46what I did, Lyra would twist it, feed her poisonous version of the story to Ryland. In the early
06:51days, he used to defend me. By the end, he always took her side. Just like now.
07:03Jealous shrew.
07:11For old time's sake, I'll let this go. Take these, get yourself proper clothes. If you really
07:17don't want to tend Lyra's hatchling, I'll find you something tolerable next season. Don't worry,
07:20ever since Kale absorbed us, this kind of thing cost me nothing. No, thank you. I don't take things from
07:26strangers.
07:34You won't take what I'm offering? What does that mean? I'm a stranger to you?
07:37Ryland grabbed my arm. He dissolved our bond. Better not to stay tangled in each other's lives. Others might get
07:44the wrong impression.
07:44I was thinking of Kale, who had a very particular dislike of misunderstandings.
07:49Ryland glanced at Lyra. He had a knowing look.
07:52My faction is hosting a tribute piece for Kale in three days. I was going to bring you, show you
07:57something real.
07:58But you need to present yourself properly. Can't embarrass me.
08:01I'm fine. But thank you.
08:04Fine. I'll take Lyra.
08:07I won't let you down.
08:13Hope you're still this confident in three days, I said, and walked into the tree line.
08:19Fresh air. The nausea faded.
08:22I stood there for a moment, breathing it in.
08:25My mind flashed back to three years ago.
08:27My family had arranged an alliance overseas.
08:30I'd gone to Ryland for the first.
08:32Seven years together, I wanted to seal our bond before the journey.
08:36Forced the decision. He agreed.
08:39But at the sacred hall, it wasn't just Ryland waiting.
08:42Lyra was there too.
08:44Lyra's baby needs a father on paper.
08:46Once we divorce, I'll marry you.
08:48This is just about Hatchling.
08:50I watched him take her inside.
08:52That was the last thing I needed to see.
08:55I crossed the border that night.
08:57Met Kale.
08:58Bonded with him a month later.
08:59Had our son the year after.
09:01Now I was carrying it again.
09:03And the only reason I was even back in the reach was to attend a clan ancestral rite with Kale.
09:09Honestly, if it wasn't for the rite, I never would have set foot back here.
09:12And I definitely wouldn't have run into Ryland.
09:15Three days later, I painted on a light adornment.
09:18Threw on comfortable traveling leathers and made my way to the feast grounds alone.
09:22The second Ryland saw me enter the clearing, his eyes lit up.
09:26A smug smirk spread across his face.
09:31You said you weren't coming, but here you are.
09:34Listen.
09:35If you want me back, you need to at least present yourself properly to match my standing.
09:40I walked past him without a word.
09:43He grabbed my arm.
09:45Evara, I'm talking to you.
09:46Our circle is here.
09:48Where do you think you're going?
09:50I pulled free and said simply,
09:52That's your circle.
09:54Mine is up there.
09:57He followed my gaze to the head circle.
10:00The raised dais reserved for lords and their bonded mates.
10:04His face went pale.
10:06Lyra spotted my bracelet from across the ground and her voice cut through the clearing.
10:10Evara, how did she get in here?
10:12She's here to cause chaos.
10:14How dare she wear that bracelet tonight?
10:16Of all knights.
10:18Tonight is the first time Kale is bringing his bonded maid out publicly.
10:22Is she trying to humiliate Hela?
10:25She slipped past the Sentinels.
10:27She's trying to make us look disloyal in front of Lord Kale.
10:32Is this female with you?
10:34No.
10:37Take that bracelet off and get out.
10:41I looked at her with a faint smile.
10:46You sure you want me to leave?
10:48Lyra realized others were watching.
10:51Her eyes went vicious.
10:53Stop acting like you're something.
10:55Take it off now.
10:56She lunged forward to rip it from my wrist.
10:59I swatted her claw away and stepped back.
11:02Someone behind me tripped me.
11:03I hit the ground hard.
11:06Lyra stepped on my arm and ripped the bracelet off my wrist.
11:10My arm screamed.
11:11My wrist was bleeding.
11:14Treating this like it's something sacred.
11:17Trash.
11:19But I just sat there.
11:21Staring at the bracelet lying broken on the ground.
11:24Shards scattered across the stone.
11:27Pick her up and throw her out.
11:29A few Sentinels moved toward me.
11:32They reached for my arms.
11:33I struggled.
11:35I am Kale's.
11:37Lyra struck me across the face before I could finish.
11:40Are you going to start spreading rumors that your Lord Kale's kept female?
11:43You wish.
12:05Rylan crouched down in front of me.
12:08Reached for my wrist.
12:09I pulled back instinctively.
12:10Are you done throwing your fit?
12:12You show up wearing the bracelet.
12:13Dressed down on purpose.
12:14You wanted me jealous.
12:15Just say it and I'll give you what you want.
12:17I laughed.
12:18Short.
12:18Sharp.
12:21Rylan.
12:22You're finished.
12:23He frowned.
12:24Opened his mouth.
12:25And then the clearing went dead silent.
12:28Guests began to straighten themselves, drifting toward the entrance path.
12:32Kale is here.
12:33Behave yourself.
12:35Lyra and I have dissolved our bond, by the way.
12:38I stared at him.
12:39I was cradling my nearly broken wrist.
12:41I'm just stating word for again.
12:43Looking at the mail in front of me thinking, how did I spend seven years on this person?
12:47What did his dissolution have to do with me?
12:50At that exact moment, Kale walked in with our son in his arms.
12:54Once they reached the feast grounds, our son squirmed and climbed down.
12:58He hit the stone path, all soft cheeks and small clawed boots.
13:02And every eye in the clearing went straight to him.
13:05His guardian scrambled after him.
13:08Evara.
13:08If you stop being jealous of Lyra, I'll forgive you for disappearing three years.
13:14I'll give you another chance.
13:16Carry my hatchling, a real one, ours.
13:19Just come back and tend to my son.
13:21I'll get rid of Lyra.
13:23Rylan hadn't noticed who the cub was yet.
13:25I didn't say a single word to him.
13:27I just looked past him into the crowd, trying to catch Kale's and our son's eyes.
13:33Then it happened.
13:35Kale followed the cub's small clumsy steps, straight to where I was.
13:39The second my son saw me, something broke open in his face.
13:44He threw himself into my arms.
13:47He looked at my wrist.
13:48Why is there so much blood?
13:50Mom.
13:50Every dragon in that clearing turned from the cub to me.
13:53The ones who have watched me get knocked around without doing a thing.
13:56All of them staring.
13:58My son's warmth in my arms washed away everything that had been pressing down on me.
14:02I crouched down to his level, cupped his cheek.
14:05He took my hand, bent his small head, and breathed very carefully on the wound.
14:10A dragon child's instinct.
14:12The faint warmth of an ember breath that couldn't yet burn but still tried to heal.
14:17His eyes were wet, cubs.
14:19They see something hurting someone they love and they just fall apart.
14:23Protecting you is mom's job too.
14:25A dragon.
14:26Before I could say anything more, the air in the clearing changed.
14:29A heavy, suffocating stillness washed over the crowd.
14:32Kyle was walking toward us.
14:33That quiet, controlled walk that made the air around him feel different.
14:37Dragons moved aside without knowing why.
14:39I felt him before I saw him.
14:41I picked up our son and turned around.
14:43The blood on my wrist looked stark against his white wrap.
14:46Our son looked up at Kyle immediately.
14:48Mother!
14:49Someone hurt mother!
14:50We have to make them pay!
14:53Kyle stepped forward and very carefully lifted my arm.
14:56What happened?
14:57His face was unreadable.
14:58Ivara, I'm right here and you're already hurt.
15:01I can't take my eyes off you.
15:03But his voice was quiet.
15:04He didn't finish the sentence.
15:06Whoever did this?
15:08He didn't need to.
15:10Looking at this cold, absolute lord turn into a fiercely protective mate made my heart ache.
15:15He was always like this.
15:16A mosquito bite.
15:17A bruise from sleep.
15:19Even just eating half a portion.
15:20He'd be beside himself with worry.
15:22But I loved how intensely he cared about me.
15:25The feast hall's ambient light was low and dim, but our son felt something hard beneath his boot.
15:30He bent down and picked it up from the stone.
15:32It was the central gem from my broken bracelet.
15:35Father, isn't this the bracelet you gave mother?
15:36Kale's inscription visible on its face.
15:39Kale took it from him, turned it over, saw the engraving.
15:42Then I looked at the shard scattered across the ground and at my wrist.
15:45The nearest stone pillar cracked in his grip.
15:48Bring every torch to the ground over here.
15:50Now!
15:51He drew me gently into the light.
15:53When our eyes met, his pupils narrowed slightly.
15:55I softened my voice.
15:56What happened to your face?
15:59They actually dared to do this to you?
16:02I'm fine, Kale.
16:04Evora, I am your mate.
16:06You never have to swallow this kind of treatment alone.
16:10No one gets to hurt mother!
16:12Our son pressed close.
16:14Honestly, I could have handled Rylan and Lyra myself.
16:17But perhaps it was pregnancy.
16:19Or perhaps it was just finally feeling safe.
16:21My voice cracked.
16:24And they all came at me.
16:26All the weight I'd been holding for three days broke open.
16:29Vesa had lost control of herself entirely.
16:32Her shift reflex had misfired in the most primal, humiliating way a dragon can in public.
16:38Scales broke out down one side of her neck and arm in a panicked, involuntary half shift.
16:43The kind that happened to hatchlings who couldn't control their fear responses.
16:47On a grown female in a formal gathering, in front of a lord, it was devastating.
16:53Kyle's jaw tightened slightly.
16:55A sentinel materialized and quietly escorted her from the grounds.
17:00Lyra and Rylan went scarlet.
17:03The guests looked at them the way you look at those who have shamed themselves past the point of recovery.
17:09Meanwhile, a healer Kyle had summoned was tending to my wrist, nearby.
17:14I hissed.
17:15Kyle and our son both turned with the same expression.
17:18Can you perhaps be a little more careful?
17:21The healer's hands started trembling.
17:24I shot them both a look.
17:29He's helping me. Stop.
17:31I grabbed a clean wrap and frantically began binding Kale's bleeding hand.
17:36Rylan looked genuinely hurt.
17:39Ivara, I know you're bitter.
17:40But Lyra and I have dissolved our bond.
17:44Her hatchling is ready to call you mother.
17:46You only bonded with Kale to wound me.
17:48I understand. I'm not angry.
17:50Just come back.
17:51Whatever he can give you, I'll work twice as hard to match it.
17:54Just return and tend to my son.
17:56If you don't want Lyra, I'll make her disappear.
17:59I honestly could not believe what I was hearing.
18:01His arrogance had no floor.
18:03Kale's blood was smearing onto my wraps.
18:05But as I urgently pressed the binding to his palm, he suddenly let out a low, genuine laugh.
18:11Why are you laughing?
18:13Ivara.
18:14Kale reached over with his uninjured hand and quietly rested it on top of my head.
18:18You just said I'm the one you love most.
18:20Our son made a face and looked away.
18:22His cold, fearsome father was currently acting like a lovesick hatchling.
18:26All because I'd defended him.
18:28The entire feast grounds went still.
18:30Half the guests were in shock.
18:32The other half were dying of quiet envy.
18:34The whispers spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass.
18:38The rumors are real.
18:39He is completely devoted to his mate.
18:42Rylan stood there, his knuckles white with humiliation.
18:45But our son wasn't finished.
18:46He looked Rylan up and down with open disdain.
18:49Cub tender, my mother is the most protected one in our den.
18:56You think you deserve her?
18:58You think you deserve her?
18:58It's an old demon.
18:58He is a kid.
18:58He's different.
18:58You think you deserve her?
18:58It's been a kid and, you know, you never lose.
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